Eotart engine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 425,562 PatentedApr. 15, 1890.

(No Model.) I a Sheets-Sheet 2. B. BECK.

nomnz'snems. No. 425,562. Patented Apr. 15', 1890.

8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

- B. BECK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

UNITED STATES PATENT Enron,

BRUNO BECK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ROTARY ENGIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,562, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed A t 20, 1889 Serial ITO. 321,428 (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRUNO BECK, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to rotary steam-engines and it has for its object to provide such an engine with two sliding pistons at diametrically-opposite sides of the piston-Wheel, both connected together for one at the time to be in action during one-half of a revolution, and to provide in combination therewith an oscillating valve With a cutoff mechanism for using the steam expansively; and with these objects in view my invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and specific ally claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1' represents a side elevation; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section through the center of the engine, and Fig. 3 a longitudinal vertical section on line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. i is a side and edge view of one of the pistons, and Fig. 5 an elevation of the valve-operating mechanism detached.

Corresponding letters of reference in th several figures of the drawings designate like parts.

A denotes an annular chamber having the function of a cylinder, and being made in two semicircular sections bolted together on top, and having bolted between its bottom end a keystone-shaped body B, that forms the abutment for the steam-pressure, and at the same timeprovides the steam-chest and steam-inlet-valve chamber. This annular chamber is U-sha Jed in section. and its interior fian es have a series of semicircular grooves that engage and snugly fit corresponding projections of the rim of piston-wheel C, the hub c of which being connected with such rim 0 by arms I). Thehub of this wheel 0 is mounted upon a shaft D, journaled in standard-bearings E E and F F, all rigidly bolted upon a bed-plate G. The standards E E are also provided with flanges e, for securing between the annular chamber A, to be rigid therewith.

At diametrically-opposite positions the rim of Wheel C is provided with interiorly-projecting pockets 0, each having a stuffing-box (Z, and into these pockets a are fitted the pistons I-I, radially to reciprocate therein, the rods h of which pistons, after being passed through the striding-boxes cl, are secured with their screw-threaded ends to the opposing ends of an open rectangular frame f by screwnuts, so as to be adjustable. The shaft D is passed through this frame f, clearing the same While being reciprocated. The pistons H are U-shaped, snugly fitting the annular chamber, and the pistons H are so connected by frame f that one of these pistons only reaches into such annular chamber, while the other one is Withdrawn into its pocket (0.

For insuring a steam-tight joint with annular chamber A, each piston H is grooved in its U-face for U-shaped straps g, fitted into these grooves to provide a packing for the piston, and for the purpose of preventing these U -bars from disengaging they are slotted in their ends -to engage the ends of gibs 2', projected through holes in the pistons H.

The abutment B is fitted between the flanged ends of the two sections of the annular chamber, so that its upper end will butt against the piston-wheel O and form a close joint therewith. This abutment B is cast hollow to provide a steam-chest 3', into which leads the steam-pipe 7t from. the boiler, and a port from this steam-chest leads to the oscillat-ing valve 1, turned a little conical and snugly fitted into its socket in abutment B, and is secured by a nut Z upon the reduced screw-threaded end of such valve projected through the end of wall of the abutment B. This valve is diametrically slotted to provide a communicating channel between the steamehest and an L-port m in the abutment directing the steam through one side into the annular. chamber. This valve I has secured upon its end a crank J, to which is pivoted the lower hub of a Y-shaped arm 0, having hooks p to both its arms.

Against a bracket q, forming part of annular chamber A, is pivoted a small beam L, provided with rigid pendent arms g, each with a set-screw 7', and having pivoted near its ends pendent hooks 5, held against the setscrews 7' by a leaf-spring t, and in position so pivotally coupled with the end of rod to, forming part of strap 4; of an eccentric M, mounted upon shaft D, in a manner that the rotation of such shaft D will impart an oscillating movement to beam L, whereby the hooks s will alternately engage hooks p, and after turning the crank J and the valve I, connected therewith, so as to admit steam between the abutment B and one of the pistons H to a certain amount, the swinging movement of such beam L will discharge the hooks, when spring it will instantly shut the valve J again, whereby the steam admitted will continue to exert its power by its expansion. After the piston I-I, thus pushed to follow the circle of chamber A, has reached near the top,- it is released of the pressure by the steam escaping through ports to into the exhaust-pipe N. Each time after the piston H, extended into the annular chamber A and exposed to the pressure of steam, has passed the exhaustports, the diametrically-opposite piston H, retracted into its pocket a, will have passed the abutment B, and is now to be radially pushed into the annular chamber A, to be exposed to the steam-pressure, whereby the other piston will be removed into its pocket to. This reciprocating movement is governed by two cranks P, sleeved with their hubs upon shaft D at opposite sides of oblong frame f, and to projecting arms on, rigid with and to opposite sides, edges of frame f are pivoted with their center portion levers 3 one end of each lever y being pivotally connected with one of the cranks P, while the opposite ends of these levers y will alternately be brought in contact with a stud z, rigid with the frame-standard E, so as to swing such lever 3 to clear such Stud 2, and thereby shifting the pistons I-I radially to the desired positions.

Upon shaft D is mounted at one side of the engine a fiy-wheel Q and at the opposite side a pulley R, for transmitting the power from the engine by a belt.

I claiml. The combination of annular chamber A, of abutment 13, having steam-chest j and oscillating steam-valve I, and of wheel C, provided with diametrically opposite pistons-H,

'radially sliding into and out of chamber A and connected together for simultaneous movement, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with annular chamber A, abutment B, having steam-chest j, and steam-valve I,with crank J, of wheel 0, mounted upon shaft D and providedwith radiallysliding pistons I-I, connected together for simultaneous movement, and of eccentric M,

also -mounted upon shaft D, with eccentric strap and rod for operating such valve, as.

set forth. r

3. The combination,with wheel 0, mounted upon shaft D and provided with diametrically-opposite radially-sliding pistons H, connected together for simultaneous movement, of annular chamber A and abutment B, arranged with steam-chest and valve I, having crank J, with Y'-shaped hook-arm 0, and connected to the bed-plate by spring a, ofb'eam L, provided with pendent hooks s, alternately to engage arm 0, and of eccentric M, mounted upon shaft Dand provided with strap and rod for connecting with one end of beam L, for oscillating such beam, all substantially as set forth, to operate as specified.

4. The combination, with a double p'i'ston rotating engine, of oscillating steam-valve I, 7

having crank J, witharin 0, having hooks p, and with spring a, of beamL, having pendent rigid arms q, with set-screws r aiid pivot-al hook-arms 7;, yieldingly held to the set-screws r by spring 25, and of eccentric M, mounted upon the engine-shaft and provided with strap '1; and rod to, pivotally coupled to one end of beam L, all substantially as described,

.to operate as specified.

5. The combination, with aunular'chamber A, having abutment B, of wheel 0, mounted upon shaft Dand provided with dia'i'netrically-opposite pistons I-I, radially sliding into and out of chamber A and connected together for simultaneous movement by a frame f, of

' cranks P, sleeved upon shaft D, and of levers 11 pivoted to frame f, of cranks P, and of stationary stud z, swinging'such levers by their contact therewith for reciprocating the pistons lI during their rotation, all substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BRUNO BECK. Witnesses:

M. H. Lorz, OTTO LUEBKERT. 

